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The briefing highlights that material efficiency and recirculation can contribute nearly 20% of the GHG emissions reductions needed by 2050 for the steel and aluminum sectors. It distinguishes between pre-consumer, post-consumer, and internal scrap, noting that only post-consumer scrap provides significant emissions benefits by replacing primary aluminum production, which averages 16 tons of CO2e per ton. To align with 1.5°C trajectories, the aluminum industry must increase the share of post-consumer scrap from 21% in 2020 to 46% by 2050, while reducing pre-consumer scrap from 13% to 9%. The author contends that current reporting, which often only lists 'total recycled content,' obscures these distinctions, and advocates for separate disclosure of post-consumer content to drive market demand and sectoral decarbonization.

The report argues that Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries can significantly lower wholesale power prices and enhance energy security by accelerating the deployment of wind and solar energy. By targeting 200 GW of capacity by 2030, the region could reach a 63% share of renewables in electricity generation. The analysis emphasizes that cross-country collaboration is essential to unlock over 100 GW of offshore wind potential and that aligning national strategies with EU policy could unlock approximately €137 billion in public funding.

The briefing examines the shift toward a feminist foreign policy in Germany, specifically through the BMZ's 2023 Africa strategy. While acknowledging progress in aligning with African priorities like Agenda 2063 and addressing structural inequalities, the author argues that the feminist approach is currently limited primarily to development cooperation. The document calls for a more comprehensive application of feminist principles to peace and security, economic policy (specifically care work), climate action (integrating indigenous knowledge), and migration to dismantle global hierarchies and post-colonial continuities.

Tunisia faces stagnant economic growth, high youth unemployment, and a large informal sector despite strong human capital. The report identifies a 'Current Path' of slow growth and vulnerability to food price shocks and climate change, while proposing three alternative scenarios. These scenarios emphasize that improving governance, reducing inefficient subsidies, and enhancing education quality are foundational to any successful transition. The 'Sustainability & Equality' pathway is highlighted as the most effective for reducing extreme poverty and carbon emissions, while 'Going for Growth' offers the highest GDP increase through FDI and industrial promotion.

The policy brief examines the challenges of sustainable finance, noting that a lack of standardized information and an over-reliance on green bonds for clean energy generation limit the flow of capital. It highlights international examples, such as the European Union's taxonomy and reporting directives, and suggests Canada adopt similar frameworks for transition finance and sustainability-linked finance to support high-emitting sectors and aggregated project investments.

Germany's Federal Administrative Court overturned a lower court's decision, ruling that the German Environmental Legal Remedies Act (UmwRG) cannot be used to restrict the legal standing of environmental NGOs when such restrictions conflict with EU law and the Aarhus Convention. The court found that the NGO 'BUND Naturschutz' had standing to challenge a Bavarian ordinance reducing protected natural areas, citing the primacy of EU law and the Protocol on the Implementation of the Alpine Convention. This decision establishes that national laws restricting access to justice for environmental organizations must be disregarded if they prevent the protection of rights guaranteed by EU and international environmental law.

The document highlights the potential negative economic consequences of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on Africa, particularly for least developed countries (LDCs). It warns of significant GDP and export losses, administrative barriers to market access, and a lack of concrete EU financial commitments to help African manufacturing industries decarbonize.

The Clean Air Task Force conducted a survey of over 430 oil and gas sites across 15 European countries between February 2021 and March 2023, finding that methane pollution is widespread, with emissions detected at 289 of the visited sites.

A coalition of environmental organisations is calling on the European Parliament to reject amendments 268-280 to the Methane Regulation, arguing these changes would create loopholes for large companies, reduce the frequency of leak detection and repair (LDAR) inspections, and weaken reporting requirements for energy imports.

The author contends that the steel industry's exemption from the EU ETS benchmark reform, secured through lobbying—particularly by Germany—shields polluting installations from necessary price signals. While the sector faces high costs for transitioning to Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) technology, the document argues that free allowances do not bridge the investment gap and instead reduce the pressure to modernise. The author suggests that the ETS should make polluting more expensive to incentivise the shift to low-carbon steel, rather than serving as a protectionist tool.

The document outlines the EV battery supply chain—divided into upstream (mining), midstream (processing/refining), downstream (assembly), and end-of-life—highlighting China's current dominance. It discusses the environmental and human rights risks associated with mining critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, and details US legislative tools such as the Inflation Reduction Act designed to 'de-risk' the supply chain and foster domestic economic growth.

The report examines the legal friction between the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the proposed Nature Restoration Law (NRL). It argues that the CFP's Article 11 'joint recommendation' process—used to protect marine areas from fishing—is plagued by delays, a de facto veto for fishing states, and a lack of accountability, which risks undermining the binding restoration targets of the NRL. The author proposes that the NRL be drafted with specific triggers and deadlines to force the CFP process forward and recommends that the European Commission take a more active role as a facilitator and mediator to prevent the watering down of environmental protections.

Carbon Market Watch critiques the European cement association's (Cembureau) claims that cement production and use can provide carbon removals. The author argues that proposed methods—including the use of sustainable biomass with CCS, enhanced carbonation, and natural carbonation—fail to meet the criteria for permanent and additional removals when full life-cycle assessments are considered. The document urges the EU to focus on proven removal techniques and industrial decarbonization strategies, such as reducing clinker-to-cement ratios and phasing out free pollution permits under the Emissions Trading System.

The document examines the 'energy efficiency gap' and evaluates whether converting energy consumption data (kWh/year) into monetary terms encourages the purchase of energy-efficient appliances. Based on field experiments and literature reviews, it finds that while monetary information can be effective, its success depends heavily on the appliance type and the method of delivery. For example, lifetime energy savings (LES) information is effective for fridges and washing machines when delivered via sales staff or labels, whereas lifetime energy cost (LEC) information is effective for A++ models of fridges, washing machines, and dishwashers when provided by sales staff. The authors suggest using QR codes on labels to address varying energy prices across EU countries.

The report details the growth and composition of China's GSS+ debt market, highlighting that China was the largest global source of green bonds in 2022. It examines the shift toward 100% use-of-proceeds alignment, the emergence of transition finance for hard-to-abate sectors, and the dominance of rural revitalisation in the social bond segment.

The document details the transition from the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) to the new EU Deforestation Regulation, specifying that Member States must designate competent authorities with adequate powers, functional independence, and resources within six months of the Regulation's entry into force. It further describes the necessity of establishing effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions—including fines of at least 4% of annual EU turnover—and the requirement to implement annual risk-based compliance plans and customs controls within 18 months.

The EU Deforestation-free Products Regulation imposes significant new obligations on EU Member States to ensure products consumed in the EU do not contribute to global deforestation. Member States must designate competent authorities within six months that possess adequate powers, functional independence, and resources. Within 18 months, they must establish national penalty rules that are effective, proportionate, and dissuasive, including fines of at least 4% of annual Union-wide turnover. The Regulation also requires the creation of annual risk-based compliance check plans and enhanced coordination between competent and customs authorities.

The revised General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), approved on 9 March 2023 and applicable until the end of 2026, allows EU Member States to grant State aid for green transition projects without prior European Commission notification if specific conditions are met. While it introduces new support for clean mobility, biodiversity restoration, and renewable energy communities, it also maintains loopholes for fossil gas through high-efficiency cogeneration, gas-fired district heating, and carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS). The regulation significantly raises financial notification thresholds and aid intensity rates to accelerate the Green Deal Industrial Plan, though it lacks an explicit 'energy efficiency first' principle and faces criticism for poor transparency in aid reporting.

The document argues that the EU fisheries sector must shift away from carbon-intensive, high-impact fishing to meet the goals of the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law. It recommends a comprehensive approach including the creation of national emission-reduction roadmaps, the transition from active mobile bottom-contacting gears to passive techniques, and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies. The brief emphasizes the need to quantify all greenhouse gas emissions, including those from seabed disturbance and the removal of fish biomass, and suggests integrating fisheries into the EU Emission Trading System (ETS). It also advocates for fairer funding access for small-scale coastal fisheries and the use of ecosystem-based fisheries management to protect 'blue carbon' habitats.

The briefing advocates for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty based on three pillars: ending new exploration and production, phasing out existing production equitably, and enabling a just global transition. It outlines the necessity of international coordination to address the supply side of climate change, noting that current global production plans exceed 1.5°C limits. The document provides a roadmap for governments to support the treaty through public endorsements, diplomatic engagement, and domestic policy measures such as removing subsidies and restricting new infrastructure.